Disposable tooth color shade guide

ABSTRACT

A tooth color shade guide which has a body (20) constructed from photographic paper, thermoplastic, or cardboard, having a number of fingers (22) distending from a base portion (28). A specimen (32) of a color shade is located on the end of each finger, each having a different hue and alpha-numeric designations (34) adjacent thereunto allow natural tooth color to be matched and identified. The attaching end (26) of the fingers are perforated (30), permitting them to be individually torn-off for comparison and then the entire color shade guide may be disposed of after use. A moisture indicating surface (38) may be added to the back of each finger exhibiting use when in contact with moisture present in a person&#39;s mouth.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to dental color shade guides in general,and more specifically to a set of shade guides that are individuallyremovable with the entire set disposed of after use.

BACKGROUND ART

Previously, many types of color shade guides have been in use allowingthe dental practitioner to match the color of a patients tooth andcommunicate the color to the manufacturer, fabricating a restoration. Inthe past, a number of color samples have been attached to either afixed, rotatably separate metal plate or an artificial tooth, or portionthereof, attached to a separable holder. In any event, the dentistpositions the color sample on or near the tooth being restored in orderto visually ascertain and classify the color of the natural tooth. Inmost cases, prior art has reproduced a tooth in basic shape and size,even to the extent that the entire exposed surface of the tooth has beenformed and a handle member is attached to allow manipulation. Further,some devices utilize pivot connections between the specimen and thehandle, allowing convenient positioning in the oral cavity.

A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that readdirectly on the claims of the instant invention, however, the followingU.S. patents were considered related:

    ______________________________________                                        U.S. Pat. No. Inventor     Filing Date                                        ______________________________________                                        4,620,841     Farrell et al                                                                              Dec. 24, 1984                                      4,541,801     Mackert      Apr. 13, 1984                                      4,207,678     Jeannette    Sep. 26, 1977                                      4,115,922     Alderman     Sep. 20, 1976                                      3,964,167     Yerkes       Oct. 24, 1974                                      3,378,925     Faller       Jul. 14, 1965                                      2,805,478     Adams        Jan. 20, 1955                                      ______________________________________                                    

Farrell et al teach a metal blank with metal bars covered with dentalglass fused onto a layer of different colored opaque material with aclear glaze on the top. The shade guide is configured as a singleelement with individual colors in a contiguous arcuate fan-like arrayallowing the guide to be held and the particular shade matched to thematerial tooth by the position maintained.

Mackert discloses a number of removable color rods for color comparison.The rods project from a frame and a stud snaps into a bore holding it inplace in this frame. The rods are positioned side by side and areindividually removed for use. The rod does not have the shape of thetooth, instead is rectangular, the same width as the balance of the rod.

Jeannette similarly provides a holder for guides stored side by side.The individual guides have either a specific chroma percentage or aprimary shade. In use, a primary color is selected which matches mostclosely the patients natural teeth. A set of secondary shade guidescorrespond to the primary, except they contain a selected chromapercentage defined by a predetermined value ratio achieved by a colormodifier allowing selection of the nearest color by comparison. Thecolor specimens are in somewhat the shape of a tooth and have a handleon the opposite end.

Alderman teaches a shading system with both gingival and incisal shadeselectors with the holder hinged in the middle. Shade buttoms of thegingival selectors are concave, tapering to a thin edge and the incisalselectors are convex and relatively thicker. Each selector is removablefrom the hinged case.

Yerkes utilizes a disposable tooth shade guide with a tooth simulatingmember much the same shape as a tooth. A mounting member pivotally holdsthe tooth and a translucent cover alters the color by having differentcolor variations producing a combined color. The cover may be removedand discarded after use.

Faller's approach to the problem of sanitation uses a tank filled withdisinfectant in which the shade guide is immersed. A support, in theform of a lid having a center wall member with slots on each side,secure individual elements. The slot is outwardly tapered to hold theindividual elements in place.

Adams pivots a set of artificial teeth of different hues in a holderallowing a desired number of teeth to be selectively positioned adjacentto the oral cavity of a patient. The non-required teeth may be movedlaterally away and supported in that position while the comparison isbeing made.

It is very apparent that the prior art has limited its attention toguides that are maintained in sets either connected together and pivotedor individual samples capable of being selected for comparison andthereafter stored in a convenient container. Nowhere has a trulyeconomically feasible, disposable guide been employed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

With this prior art in mind, the basic problem has been solved, that ofduplicating colors of natural teeth for restorations. This art hasdeveloped to such an extent that industry standard designations are usedrepresenting each color. The dentist makes the selection and providesthe manufacturer with the alphanumeric reference for the color, which isjointly recognized by both parties.

While this practice and the prior art has been in existance for sometime, society, at least in this and more developed countries, has becomemuch more concerned with health and hygiene, particularly towardprevention of contracting a communicable disease. The apparent need has,therefore, arisen for a device to accomplish the color comparisonwithout having to be used by more than one person. Since prior artemploys rather expensive simulated teeth or sample chips on pivotinghandles, and the like, it would be economically impracticle to use suchan array of colors in a set and then dispose of them entirely.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide adisposable color shade guide that contains all of the normal colors in aconvenient row with the capability of simply tearing off one or moresamples and actually touching the tooth allowing comparison with teethon both sides. This is accomplished by utilizing a thin material withthe colors in linear array grouped in logical sequence, each positionedon the ends of a series of fingers that are easily removed by tearing aperforated portion. This allows the dentist to tear off the sample andposition it properly on the teeth and then dispose of it and theremaining guide when the selection is made. The advantage of this systemis obvious in that no cross-contamination may occur between patients norwith the person using the guide. Great care and expense is presentlybeing incurred by individuals and government regulatory agencies toprevent the spread of disease, particularly in the medical and dentalfield.

An important object of the invention is directed to the configuration ofthe guide, as it is very thin and yet has enough body to be handledeasily. This slenderness allows the color specimen to be positioned onthe same plane as the adjoining teeth and, as the shape is tooth-likeand similar in size, optical aberations are nearly eliminated. Prior artuse, in many cases, an actual tooth-like sample that is close to thesame thickness as a tooth. Some of these samples pivot using a handle onthe back requiring considerable depth and placing the actual sample wellabove the other teeth. In either case, comparison is difficult andsubject to different light deflections, due to the height variations.The inventions improvement in configuration alone is indeed novel andunique from this standpoint.

Another object of the invention is the addition of a black outlinearound the outside edge of the color specimen. While this may appearinsignificant on the surface in practice the outline adds considerabledistinction in matching the color of the natural tooth. While prior artcompletely lacks this feature, its presence allows the comparator aclear graphic perception of the color differential or similarity as thetwo colors are disassociated by the thin opaque outline. The actualadvantage must be physically observed to be fully appreciated.

Still another object of the invention is the ability to mass produce thedevice in such quantities as to be economically feasible, sufficient tobe completely discarded after use. This object is realized byreproducing the invention by photography, holography, lasers, or othersimilar processes on a thin relatively inexpensive material, such aspaper, cardboard, thermoplastic sheets, and the like. Todays industrialadvancement allows a wide variety of reproduction techniques that arecost effective. Die cutting tooling using small punch presses are commonin the industry and basically inexpensive, particularly when the cost isamortized over a large quantity of product. This invention, therefore,uses the latest production methods to the best advantage, making thedevice inexpensive enough to be easily discarded after use, with littleconsideration given by the dental practitioner in the overall cost ofhis or her services.

Yet another object of the invention allows visual indication of actualuse preventing completely potential contamination from one patient toanother. Over and above the fact that the finger with the color specimenis torn-off during use, a moisture indicating surface is applied to theback of the color shade guide that actually changes colorcharacteristics when subjected to moisture. This surface may be made ofa litmus coating or similar material that, in the presence of saliva inthe mouth or even the moisture on the dentists fingers, changes thecolor according to the acid or alkalin content in the liquid making avisible display apparent.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the subsequent detailed description of thepreferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial isometric view of the preferred embodiment with aseparate finger containing the color specimen torn-off of the shadeguide and held in the normal manner for use.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of apreferred embodiment. The preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and2 is comprised of a flat thin body 20 with a front side and a back side.The body 20 is die cut to form a number of separate fingers 22 makingthem integral with the body. The fingers 22 are longer than they arewide creating a straight, slender portion most of the length terminatingat an extended end 24. An attaching end 26, which is the other end ofthe finger, is connected to a base portion 28, also integral with thebody. The interface maintains communication, however, a plurality ofholes in the form of perforations 30 divide the base 28 from the fingers22. This arrangement of aligned holes allows the fingers to be easilydetached by tearing from the base, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and thenused individually, much like removing paper matches from a match book.

On the extended end 24 of each finger 22 a color shade specimen 32 isprovided in the shape and form of a human incisor tooth. Each fingerspecimen 32 contains a different hue, preferably starting from thelightest to the darkest in descending order from left to right. Thespecimens 32 are graded to an industry standard that match the majorityof human teeth, allowing the user to match exactly, or within anacceptable tolerance, most teeth that are being restored or replaced.

To permit an accurate color contrast, an opaque outline 36 is added onthe periphery of the color specimen 32. This outline 36 may be anycolor, however, black is preferred which distinctly defines the actualcontrast between the natural tooth and the color shade specimen 32. Thisnovel arrangement is far different than prior arts three dimensionaltooth, as it allows the user to compare the colors from an objectiveviewpoint, as distinction is easily made between the two colors beingequated. This outline 36 is relatively small, about the width of theboundary, as shown in FIG. 1, and as the specimen is cut from the parentbody 20 the outline would appear as a line approximately a pen or pencilline thick, just enough to differentiate and contrast the specimen 32from the tooth.

In order for the color of the specimen 32 to be identified, indica inthe form of an alpha-numeric designation 34 is assigned which is usedalmost universally in the industry. This designation 34 is placed oneach finger 22 below the specimen 32 in an area preferably wider thanthe finger itself. The actual location is not limited to this area, butmust be convenient to the user for easy recognition. FIG. 1 illustratesthe preferred location and the designations 34 commonly in use.

The body 20, which includes the fingers 22 and base portion 28, may bemade of a number of basic materials, such as photographic print paper onwhich a photograph has been reproduced, accurately duplicating thecolors of the specimen 32 clearly and easily, also replicating thedesignations 34. The material may also be a thermoplastic sheet usingthe same photographic process or a thin layer of paint reproducing thecolors. The body 20 may further be formed on paper or cardboard with thespecimen 32 and indica 34 deposited by printing with ink or paint.Further, a lamination of any of the above substances may be utilizedwith adhesive or heat sealing creating a bond therebetween. In order toenhance the color and improve the image of the specimen 32 a hologrammay be used with the image holographly printed using means well known inthe art. Further, the specimen 32, as well as the entire body 20 may uselaser printing techniques that are presently coming into common usage inthe printing industry. It will be noted that the materials and printingprocedures are certainly not limited to those described above, as anysuitable composition may be used with equal ease provided that the coloris not effected.

In order to prevent cross-contamination or exposure of disease from thepatient to the dental practitioner, a moisture indicating surface 38 maybe added to the back of the finger 22. This indicating surface 38 may bean type of chemical or composition that creates a change in appearancewhen subjected to moisture. A litmus coating is one such material thatreacts to the acid content in the moisture by turning the color red andan alkali by changing to a blue color. It is understood that when thefinger 22 touches the patients tooth or dentist fingers sufficientmoisture in the form of saliva is present making the color change. Ifthe finger 22 does not actually touch the patients teeth, nocontamination is present anyway and the fact that the finger is tornaway from the base 28 further precludes use with other patients. Sincethe manufacturing techniques allow the color shade guide to be costeffective, particularly in large quantities, the disposable feature willbe obvious and not a consideration even without the moisture indicatingsurface 38. In use, the invention is housed in either a matchbook-likecover, or it may be packaged in individual envelopes, or stackedtogether in a box where large usage is anticipated.

While the invention has been described in complete detail andpictorially shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limitedto such details, since many changes and modifications may be in theinvention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof.Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and formswhich may come within the language and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A disposable tooth color shade guide for identifying theindustry standard color of teeth comprising:(a) a flat thin body havinga front and a back; (b) at least one finger formed integral with saidbody having an extended end and an attached end; (c) a base portion,formed integrally with said body, having perforations dividing the basefrom each finger at the attached end such that the finger may be removedby tearing, allowing an individual finger of the guide to be used anddiscarded thereafter; (d) a distinct color shade specimen disposed uponthe front extended end of each finger, each specimen having a differenthue severally matching the industry standard for the majority of humanteeth; (e) an opaque outline on the periphery of each color shadespecimen distinctly defining the contrast over the true tooth color;and, (f) indicia residing on each finger connotating the customarystandard shade of each specimen allowing a tooth to be matched in colorwhen being replaced by a dental prosthesis.
 2. The color shade guide asrecited in claim 1 wherein said body further comprises; photographicprint paper with said color shade specimen photographically reproducedduplicating the industry standard color.
 3. The color shade guide asrecited in claim 1 wherein said body is further comprised of;thermoplastic material and said color shade specimen is paint depositedin a thin layer thereupon duplicating the industry standard color. 4.The color shade guide as recited in claim 1 wherein said body furthercomprises; paper with said color shade specimen ink deposited byprinting on the paper duplicating the industry standard color.
 5. Thecolor shade guide as recited in claim 1 wherein said body furthercomprises; laser print paper with said color shade specimen laser colorprinted reproducably duplicating the industry standard color.
 6. Thecolor shade guide as recited in claim 1 wherein said body furthercomprises; holographic print paper with said color shade specimenholographically printed reproducably duplicating the industry standardcolor.
 7. The color shade guide as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising; a moisture indicating surface on the back of the bodyfingers opposite the specimen providing visual indication that thefinger has been in contact with moisture on a tooth preventingcross-contamination of patients by using the same guide.
 8. The colorshade guide as recited in claim 7 wherein said moisture indicatingsurface further comprises; litmus coating which reacts to an acidcontent in moisture by turning the color red and an alkalin content byturning the color blue creating a distinct change of color whensubjected to moisture, such as saliva found in ones mouth and teeth. 9.A disposable tooth color shade guide for identifying the industrystandard color of teeth comprising:(a) a flat thin body having a frontand a back; (b) at least one finger formed integral with said body eachhaving an extended end and an attached end; (c) a base portion, formedintegrally with said body, having perforations dividing the base portionfrom each finger at the attached end, such that each finger may beremoved by tearing allowing an individual finger of the guide to be usedand discarded thereafter; (d) a distinct color shade specimen disposedupon the front extended end of each finger, each specimen having adifferent hue severally matching the industry standard for the majorityof human teeth; (e) an opaque outline on the periphery of each colorshade specimen distinctly defining the contrast over the true toothcolor; (f) indica residing on each finger connotating the customarystandard shade of each specimen allowing a tooth to be matched in colorwhen being replaced by a dental prosthesis; and, (g) a moistureindicating surface on the back body of each finger opposite the specimenproviding visual indication that the finger has been in contact withmoisture on a tooth preventing cross-contaminating of patients by usingthe same guide.
 10. A disposable tooth color shade guide for identifyingthe industry standard color of teeth comprising:(a) a flat thin body ofphotographic print paper having a front and a back; (b) at least onefinger formed integral with said body each having an extended end and anattached end; (c) a base portion, formed integrally with said body,having perforations dividing the base portions from each finger at theattached end such that an individual finger may be removed by tearingallowing each finger of the guide to be used and discarded thereafter;(d) a distinct color shade specimen photographically reproduced on thefront extended end of each finger, each specimen having a different hueseverally matching the industry standard for the majority of humanteeth; (e) an opaque outline photographically reproduced on theperiphery of each color shade specimen distinctly defining the contrastover the true tooth color; (f) indica photographically reproduced oneach finger connotating the customary standard shade of each specimenallowing a tooth to be matched in color when being replaced by a dentalprosthesis; and, (g) a moisture indicating surface on the back of eachfinger opposite the specimen providing visual indication that the fingerhas been in contact with moisture on a tooth preventingcross-contamination of patients by using the same guide.
 11. The colorshade guide a recited in claim 10 wherein said moisture indicatingsurface further comprises; litmust coating which reacts to an acidcontent in moisture by turning the color red and an alkalin content byturning the color blue creating a distinct change of color whensubjected to moisture, such as saliva found in ones mouth and teeth.